Intel commits $120 million to science programs

SAN JOSE, Calif.  Intel Corp. said it is committing $120 million over the next decade to fuel more interest among youth in math and science.

The funding from the Intel Foundation for its long-time science competition partner Society for Science & the Public supports the company's Intel Science Talent Search and Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. The support also adds a youth outreach program plus an online science community and science fair alumni network.

The $120 million is the largest single commitment in the history of the Intel Foundation, according to Intel (Santa Clara, Calif.). It extends its title sponsorships of the Intel Science Talent Search, which began in 1998, through 2016, and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which began in 1996, through 2019.

These competitions are just one aspect of Intel's annual investment of more than $100 million to improve education and technology literacy around the world.

Intel's new commitment, announced Monday (Oct. 20) at the U.S. News and World Report Education Summit in Washington, was coupled with a national challenge to states to send more young people to the science competitions that support tomorrow's innovators. In 2008, only 19 states had finalists participate in the Intel Science Talent Search.

"I can't think of a more critical time to invest in math and science education," said Will Swope, Intel's vice president and general manager, Corporate Affairs Group. "We will work with districts, schools and teachers around the world to help get students excited and engaged in math and science -- subjects that provide the foundation for innovation."

In 2008, Intel Science Talent Search finalists represented 35 U.S. high schools. New York sent 15 students, followed by Pennsylvania with four and Texas with three.

International student participation in the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, which is currently at about 30 percent, will be increased in part through an outreach program with student research programs at its core. The online scientific community that will be created will encourage networking, as well as host an alumni network of past science competition participants, who will provide mentoring to new and hopeful scientists.

Society for Science & the Public (SSP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education, owns and has administered the Science Talent Search since its inception in 1942 and International Science and Engineering Fair since 1950. Elizabeth Marincola, president of SSP, said, "This remarkable commitment by Intel, and its longstanding partnership with SSP, advances substantially our goal to promote science education and to engage the public in science, on which the health of our nation and the global community depend."

The $120 million is the largest single commitment in the history of the Intel Foundation. It extends its title sponsorships of the Intel Science Talent Search, which began in 1998, through 2016, and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which began in 1996, through 2019. These competitions are just one aspect of Intel's annual investment of more than $100 million to improve education and technology literacy around the world. Intel has invested over $1 billion and Intel employees have donated over 2 million hours in the past decade alone toward improving education in 50 countries.

To learn more about Intel's commitment to education around the world, visit www.intel.com/education. To join Intel's community of people inspired by education, visit www.inspiredbyeducation.com. To learn more about Society for Science & the Public, visit www.societyforscience.org.